Combination-lock



(No Model.)

l1-.ELL

Wagggs@ 1. H.'0LEVELAND.

COMBINATION LOCK.

Patented .June` '7, 1898.

Nrr ATES ISHAM I-I. CLEVELAND, OF UNION ,a MISSISSIPPI.

f COMBINATION-Loon SPECIFICATION forming part rof Letters Patent No. 605,271, dated June '7, 1898.

Application flied April 2e, i897.-

To all whom t may concern.- l

Be it known'that I, IsHAM4 H. CLEVELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union, in the county of Newton and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Combination-Lock, of which the following is a specification. A

My invention relates to improvements in permutation-padlocks -of that class wherein a fixed core is used in connection with a column or series of tumblers and spacing-rings which are operatively combined with a removable shackle; and the object that`I have in view is to provide a simple structure in which the shackle may be inserted into the lock only in one position and to enable each Vspacing-ring to be adjusted to a variety of positions, which adjustments of the individual rings provide a large number of changes in the combinations, because there are a nurnber of spacing-rings used in the column or structure.

lVith these en ds in view the invention consists in a permutation-padlock comprising a core having a base at one end, a central threaded socket at its upper end, longitudinal shackle-seats of different cross-sectional area in diametrically opposite sides of the core, and longitudinal V-shaped channels in the faces of the core between the longitudinal shackle-seats and parallel therewith; a series of tumblers fitted loosely on the core and provided with diametrical shackle-notches corresponding in area to the shackle-seats; a series of spacing-collars arranged alternately to the tumblers to form a column therewith and each having its inner edgelformed of a series of arc-shaped faces which intersectV to produce a series of four spurs adapted to be slipped loosely in V-shaped channels of the core to hold the spacing-rings against turning thereon, and said arc-shaped faces in the rings arranged opposite to the shackle-seats to enable the shackle-legs to pass through certain of the coincident recesses formed thereby around the core; a shackle having' legs of different cross-sectional area and adapted to be readily fitted in the shackle-v seats of the core, and a cap with a threaded 5o stem to screw into the core-socket and coniine the column of rings and tumblers.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of serial No. 633,988. (No moda.)

responding parts in all the figures of the drawl designates a core terminating at its lower end in an enlargement or base 2, and detachably secured to the upper end of the core is a cap 3,.having a central threaded shank 4 for engagement with an axial bore of the core. This cap is provided with spaced openings for the reception of the legs of a shackle 5, and the core is provided at diametrically opposite points with shackleseats 6 to receive said legs of the shackle.` v In order to provide for only one "adj ustment of the lock to open the same, the legs of the shackle are made of dierent cross-sectional areas, and the openings in the cap and the shackle seats or grooves in the sides of the core are adapted, respectively, to the sizes of the shackle-legs which are to be fitted therein. Furthermore, the core is provided with` a plurality, asrfour, of longitudinal grooves 7 for engagement by inwardly-extending points or spurs 8 of the spacing-rings 9, said spacing-rings being interposed between contiguous tumblers 10, which are revoluble upon the core, to engage with theV notches ll, which are formed in the outer sides'nof the shacklelegs.

In the construction of each spacing-ring, in carrying 'my inventioninto practice, the inner surfaceof the ring is formed in segments or arcs which are eccentric to the axis of said ring, the radius of each arc being less than a radius of the ring. The arc-shaped faces, which are eccentric to the ring, intersect with each other to produce the spursS, a series of lwhich are provided within the annular edge of the ring, and these spurslie equidistant from each otherand from the axis of said ring, so that the ring is adapted to be adjusted to any one of a series of positions with relation to the core and to the rotating tumblers for providing, in connection with said tumblers,

IOO

` bodying my invention consists in the fact that spacing-rings, and hence in order to change 13, between the inwardly-extending spurs,

a large number of changes in the combination of the lock.- The spacing rings or collars are interlocked with the core to be held thereon against rotation by the provision of the channels 7 in the faces'of the core, and these channels correspond in number and position to the spurs on each spacing collar or ring, thus securely holding each spacing-collar in position at a number of points and providing for a plurality of adjustments corresponding in `number to the spurs 8 and channels 7. The desired method of adj ustably iitting the spacingcollars to the core allows the collars to lie flush with the exposed faces of the tumblers, and the outer surface of the lock presents'the appearance of a built-up column formed by the alternately-arranged annular collars and tumblers. Said tumblers lare also provided with diametrically opposite openings 12 of different areas to correspond with those of the shackle-seats in the core, and it is obvious that when the notches of the tumblers are in registration with their proper shackle-seatsthe shackle is free to be removed.

The spacing-rings and tumblers are provided with peripheral series of combination characters, as letters or numerals, the latter being preferable and being indicated in the drawings, and it is obvious that in order to adjust the tumblers to release the shackle it is necessary to arrangethem so as to establish a certain combination between the peripheral numerals of the tumblers and those of the the combinationit is simply necessary to remove the spacing-rings from the core and reapply them afterhaving given them a quarter, half, or three-quarter revolution in order to engage the spurs of said spacing-rings with respectively diiferent grooves in the core. The spacing-rings are cut away, as shown at in order to provide clearance for the outer sides of the shackle-legs and enable said rin gs to be arranged in either of the several adjustments above indicated. It is obvious, furthermore, that by multiplying the number of grooves in the core and spurson the spacg ing-rings the number of adjustments of the latter, and hence the number of the changes of the combination, may -be multiplied.

An important improvement of the lock emthe shackle-seats and shackle-legs are of difa ferent cross-sectional area, whereby in order to release the shackle it is necessary to cause a single specific adjustment of each tumbler. If the small notch of a tumbler is arranged in registration with the large shackle-seat, the shackle will be locked as effectually as though no adjustment of. the tumblers had been attempted.

A further advantage of the improved lock resides in the fact that the cap is threaded in the bore of the core and may be either applied or removed by turning the cap, and that when the shackle is engaged with the openings of the cap and with the seats in the core said cap is locked against rotary movement, and hence the parts of the lock are securely held in their operative positions.

VariousA changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. v

Having described my invention, what l claim is- Y A permutation-padlock comprising a cylindrical core provided with a base, a central threaded socket at its upper end, the shackleseats, 6, of different cross-sectional area in diametrically opposite faces of the core, and the series of longitudinal V-shaped channels, 7, in the faces of the core between and parallel to thev shackle-seats;Y the spacing-rings each having its inner edge formed of a series of arc-shaped faces, 13, struck from different centers and intersecting one with another forming a plurality of spurs, 8, spaced correspondingly to the channels, 7, in which the spurs are fitted and said arc-shaped faces producing clearance-spaces opposite to the shackle-seats; a series of tumblers alternating with the spacing-rings and having shacklenotches, l2, of corresponding cross-sectional area to the shackle-seats; a cap, 3, with a threaded stem which is screwed'into the coresocket; and a shackle with its legs of diifer- 

